Cast of 'Tarzan: The Epic Adventures'

Joe Lara | Biography

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : June 20, 2021

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Joe Lara was an American actor and musician, best known for starring the iconic character Tarzan in the American TV series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures.

Who is Joe Lara?

Joe Lara is an actor famous for his role as Tarzan in the CBS action-adventure fantasy TV series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures (1996-1997). He also starred in the same role in the 1996 TV movie of the same title and the TV movie Tarzan in Manhattan seven years earlier in 1989.

Lara also starred in multiple action films including, American Cyborg: Steel Warrior (1993), Warhead (1996), and Armstrong (1998).

After spending 20 years of his life in acting, Lara pursued a career in music and released his first album Joe Lara: The Cry of Freedom, in 2009.

Lara and his wife Shamblin died on 29 May 2021 in a plane crash near Nashville. 

Early Bio and Early Career

William Joseph Lara, alias Joe Lara was born on 2 October 1962 in San Diego, California, the United States, to Diane (Wesolowski) and William Lara. He grew up in Newport Beach, California. He played volleyball and soccer at a younger age and won the title of the 'Most Valuable Player' in high school as a wide receiver in Football. 

At 19, Lara was approached by a modeling agency. It inspired him to turn down multiple college scouts from various Universities in California and pursue professional modeling in Paris, Geneva, and Milan. Later, he moved to Los Angeles to attend scene study workshops to pursue his career in acting.

Acting Career

Lara debuted his acting career in the 1988 horror/sci-fi film Night Wars as American Soldier. Soon, he earned the lead and the iconic role Tarzan in the 1989 CBS action-adventure fantasy TV movie Tarzan in Manhattan, in which he played alongside Kim Crosby, who played the cab-driver role, Jane. Lara made his way to do the same role for the TV series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures seven years later. It happened to be his breakthrough role in his acting career. 

Lara was the first Tarzan to wear calf-length boots. He played in 22 episodes, working as the producer on many of these episodes. Filmed on locations in South Africa, the TV series aired for one season from 1996 to 1997. For the second season, Xavier DcClie was chosen to replace Lara in the lead, and Julie St. Claire was chosen to play Jane. Promos were also filmed, but the second season was never aired.

In addition to his famous role as Tarzan, he also played the lead character as a Renegade Apache named Wolf in the 1990 TV movie Gunsmoke: The Last Apache. In 1992, Lara played the role of Todd in the thriller drama film Sunset Heat and Matt in the adventure-horror TV movie The Presence. The following year, he appeared as Devon Madsen in an episode of the Canadian action-drama TV series Tropical Heat (1991-1993) and Frank Randall in the episode Tentacles: Part 2 of the action-adventure TV series Baywatch (1989-2001). 

Lara appeared in several action movies such as American Cyborg: Steel Warrior (1993), Final Equinox (1995), Warhead (1996), Armstrong (1998), Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault (1999), Doomsdayer (2000), and Death Game (2001). Furthermore, he also appeared in the 1999 crime drama film Lima: Breaking the Silence, the 2000 crime-comedy film Very Mean Men, and the 2001 thriller drama film Dead Man's Run.

After acting for 20 years, he took a break from his career in 2002 to pursue a career in music. After a long gap, he appeared in the 2018 historical romantic drama film Summer of '67 in the role of Soap Opera Actor.

Music Career

Lara was also engaged in music from a young age. His uncle Danny gifted him with his first drum set when he was in junior high school. During his ninth grade, Lara joined a guitar class and picked up his first guitar. He then continued playing it throughout his life. The action hero used to play guitar to comfort him after long hours of work in sets and a hectic international work schedule. Later, he produced and released his first album Joe Lara: The Cry of Freedom, in early 2009. 

Personal Life

In addition to his career, Lara had incredible hobbies and passions. He was a licensed falconer and a licensed pilot from 16 years of age. He was also an advanced open-driver, surfer, boxer, and a highly trained marksman. 

Lara worked with A Soldier's Child Foundation that serves children who have lost their parents while serving in the military.

On 18 August 2018, Lara married Gwen Shamblin, a nationwide best-selling author and founder of Weigh Down, an international ministry. She was also a founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood in 1999. The couple resided in Brentwood, Tennessee. 

Lara has a daughter Liana from his previous relationship with actress Natasha Pavlovich. She was also his ex-fiancée and a longtime partner.

Death

Lara lost his life at the age of 58, on 29 May 2021, when a Cessna 500 series plane crashed on Percy Priest Lake in Smyrna, a community near Nashville. The plane crash also took the lives of his wife Shamblin along with the leaders at Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood - Brandon Hannah, Devid Martin, Jennifer Martin, Jonathan Walters, and Jessica Walters. 

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